Car coupler



Feb. 12 1924. v1,483,691

A. s'rAcY CAR COUPLER Filed July 13, 1.922 2 Sheets-Sheet i uml rau n floumo Patented Feb. 12, 1924.'

` 1,483,691 UNIT-En STATES PATENT orrlc. N

ALBERT STACY, OF LOTHAIR, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALE" TO MONROE SHEP- i PAB/D, `0F LOTHAR, KENTUCKY. i

CAR COUPLER.

Application filed July 13, 1922. Serial No. 574,679.

To all whom t muy 00u-cern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT STACY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lothair, in the county of Perry and State ofKentacky, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Car Couplers; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved car coupler and has special reference toa clutch secured to one end portion of a car and adapted to grip a draw-bar which extends from a car to be coupled with the car carrying the clutch.

'Another object of the invention isto `so construct this clutch that the draw-bar may readily move into engagement with it but cannot be withdrawn until the draw-bar gripping jaws ot the clutch are moved to an inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of handbperated jaw releasing mechanism which is provided with an actuating or handle bar extended so that the operator may stand at the side of the car and release theclutch without going between the cars. j

Another object ofthe invention is to `provide a housing having an improved interior arrangement including a draw-bar passage, side passages leading from the draw-bar passage to receive the draw-bar engaging jaws, and a rear chamber in which a link Ytorming part of the means for moving the jaws to an inoperative position is positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means'for slidably mounting the two jaws so that they may have movement in opposite directions towards and away from each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch which will be `very compact in its construction and which will only extend downwardly beneath the car body a very short distance. i

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view showing the coupler clutch in end elevation.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Figure 3 .is a bottom plan view ot the clutch with the bottom plate removed.

ythe jaws 14 which `Figure 4 is a similar view with a plate removed to show the mounting of the two jaws, the draw-bar being shown locked between the jaws.

Figure 5 is a view Similar to Fig. 4 with certain parts shown in section and the drawbar shown about to be inserted.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line G-6 of Fig. 3.

Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views taken along the lines 7 4? andv8-8 respectively of Fig. 4; j

This improved coupler clutch is to be secured beneath the car body in position' for receiving the draw-bar l which extends from another car. This draw-bark is provided with a tapered and enlarged head 2 so that the draw-bar may be easily forced inwardly until the head passes between the jaws of the clutch. After `the head has passed the jaws, these jaws will move into engagement with the shaft of the draw-bar and through engagement with the head will prevent withdrawal. The two ears will thus besecurely coupled until the jaws are moved to a releasing position.l v

This clutch is provided with a housing 8 having side walls 4 and a rear or inner wall 5. Fasteners 6 are passed through this rear wall 5 up into the car body 7 and an additional fastener' 8 `is passed upwardly through the forward portion of the housing. It will thus be seen that this housing will be lirmly secured beneath the body of the car. Blocks 9 are secured in the side portions of the housing in spaced relation thus providing a `draw-bar passage l0 between these blocks. This passage 10 communicates at its inner or rear end with a chamber 'll which extends transversely of the housing. These blocks are ysecured in the housing by the fastener screws l2 and each of the blocks is provided with a pocket 13. These pockets extend from the drawbar passage l0 and it will thus be seen that are in the pockets may be normally held eX- tended across the passage as shown in Fig. 5 but may be moved away from each other to permit insertion of the draw-bar or removal of the same.` Ribs l5 extend from the sides of the jaws and are positioned in grooves 16 which extend along the sides of the pockets. Therefore, the two 4jaws will be permittedy of free sliding movement `ses will be forced apart.

A` plate 21 is secured to the blocks 9' by fasteners12 and has itsy end portions cut to provide space to permit o eration of the means Jfor moving the two jaws to an inoperative positon. This plate isalso provided with slots 23 Which receivel the hinge brackets 2d carriedl by the jaws to permit treey sliding of the jaws. One side portion of this plate 21 has been further cut to fit about a :tulcrum 25l which is secured; tov one oli the sideblocks 9. The plate will therefore serve to brace the tulcnumwhenA the means for moving the jaws to an inoperative position is operated;

In orderto move the jaws tothe inoperative position,y there has been provided an operatingv bar, 26 which may be terined a handlebar andzis provided at one end with a` handf hold 27.l This operating bar, extends through an openingy formed in, one of the endwalls land at its innerl endiisprovide withv cross head orf strip 28- having one end pivotally connected with the hinge bracket ofoneoff thejaws. f1 lever, 29 is pivotally connected with. thehinge bracket of the secondand, intermediate` its length engages with the i'ulcrinn A linkA 30 extends .longitudinally inithe chainben. 11 and has one end portion pivotally connected with theiever 29 .audits other end portion l pivotally' connected with i the cross headI 28.-(4 Therefore, when theoperating bar26 lis drawnoutwardly, one of the jaws will gbennoved towards anv` inoperative osition by a-direct p .ull'andthe 'second wi lbe moved towards aninoperativeposition y and in anfopplosite direction vvto the iirstjaw. by meanshofthe linkv SOwand lever 29.14 As soon asathe hai-idlel is released, tthe springs 18 return thejaws` to;I the.- operative position. After the blocks 9 have been ,put iny place, ,a front wall 'ito-rining, strip 31 is putl in place and secured tothefblocksby fasteners r 32. T his iront wall forming strip is .off greater depth than the end walls .Ll'andurearnvall 5 so,v that `it covers thel outer edge f of theplate 21 and willV also cover the-outer edge -ofa cover plate` 38 which is.put,in place and secured to the endvvallsby fasteners 3&1. It will thus-.be seenthat when Ithis covervplate 33 is secured, it .forms a bottom wall for the housingand prevents dust andy ,dirt from entering the housing` and interfering with the proper operation of the releasing mechanism and springe An entranceopening is formed inthe rontvvall forming strip 31 so that the draw-bar 1 may pass into the housing.

lVhen this device is in use, it will be secured beneath the body7 of the car. The draw-bar will be mounted at the opposite end of the car by any suitable mounting means and will extend. to pass through the opening 35. into. the draw-bar passage 10'. Then the two cars are brought together for coupling, the' draw-bar passes' into the hous= ing and, when. its headv 2 engages the cani -acesoi' the jaws, these jaws are forced apart so that the head may pass beyond t ein.1 The springs then move the jafvv's iiltq eiii gagenient with the shank portion. the draw-bar and the jaws will be positionec toengagethe head and prevent withdrawal. Then itis desired to uncouple the cars, the

handle or. operatingbar-Z is grasped bythe handle 27. and, drawn outwardly. This causesoneo't the jaws to be moved into its pocket by a direct pulling' action. and at. the saine time, the linkSO isdrlaw'n 'upon to roch the lever 29 against the ulcrum 25I and move the second. jaw into its pocket an opposite direction. to the`y movement of" the first. jaw.. The-jaws will thus' be drawn in wardly to the inoperative position and the draw-bar can pass outwardly through the passage 1U andA opening'. 35. It will thus be seeirthat there has been provided ay clutch which will. operate very efficiently to permit the cars to be coupled.automatically and which is so constructed that the cars cannot accidentally become unconpled. There has further. been i providedy a clutch f so, constructA edthat it-may. be moved to release the drawbarY without it being'k necessary for the operat-or to .p ass. between these cars I claim:

l. In avcar coupler, a plrising.: ahousinfg'having a draw-bar entrance7 blocks insaid housing at opposite sides ot: the-entrance to provide a-central passage` and ia' transversely. extending.. chainber to ythe rear offsaidfpassage, said 4blocks having pockets. yformed therein and .communicating` with the centralpassage, Ajaws slidable in. said. pockets and-extensible across the. central passage', `springs in vsaid pockets engaging saicl'` jaws: to yieldably. hold the jaws extended;I Y fory locking. engagement With a draw-bar forced between. the jaws, a handle` bar` extending; in'to1said housing through one side, .across headat the inner endnof saidhandle havinglone end portion extending into said chamber, andits other endiextendinginto one of saidpocketsl and pivotally connectedY witlrthe therein, a link extending. longitudinally in said chainber and ,ha-ving, one end pivotally connected -with the other end oi' the cross head of said draw-bai' clutch comi i handle bar, and a lever pivotally mounted' the other end of said link, the other end of said lever extending into the other pocket and pvotally connected with the aw therein.

In a car coupler7 adraw-bar' clutch comprising a housing having a central passage leading from an inlet and communicating with a transversely extending chamber in the rear portion of the housing, the housing being further provided with pockets leading from the entrance passage intermediate the length thereof, jaws slidably mounted in said pockets, hinge brackets carried by said jaws and extending longitudinally thereof beyond the inner ends of the jaws, springs in said `pockets engaging the inner ends of said jaws and yieldably holding the jaws extended in operative position across said inlet passage, a handle bar eX- tending into said housing through one side and having a cross head at its inner end extending transversely of the head and having one end pivotally connected with the hinge bracket of one jaw, a. link extending longitudinally in said chamber and pivotally connected with the other end of the head `of said handle bar, a fulcrum, and a lever engaging said fulcrurn and pivotally connected with said link and 'the hinge bracket of the other jaw. t

In testimony whereof I `have hereunto aifixed my signature.

ALBERT sTAoY. 

